A 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel went into effect Thursday and President Donald Trump said the next meeting between the US and Iran may take place over the weekend, adding to optimism that the Iran war could be nearing an end.
Trump said Iran had offered not to possess nuclear weapons for more than 20 years. Tehran’s nuclear ambitions were a sticking point at talks in Islamabad last weekend.
“We’re going to see what happens. But I think we’re very close to making a deal with Iran,” he told reporters outside the White House. Hours later at an event in Las Vegas, Nevada, Trump went further, saying the war “should be ending pretty soon.”
The war with Iran, which began on February 28 with a US-Israeli attack, has killed thousands and sent oil prices surging, creating a major political headache for the US President.
If the Lebanon ceasefire clears the way for a broader peace deal with Iran, it would be a significant win for the Trump administration, which has struggled so far to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz and block Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon.
US-Israel and Iran war | HIGHLIGHTS
8 pm: Trump ‘prohibits’ Israel from bombing Lebanon
US President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the US has ‘prohibited’ Israel from bombing Lebanon. The remarks came a day after Trump declared a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.
Soon after, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recorded address that Israel will continue “dismantling” Hezbollah. “We have not yet finished the job. There are things we plan to do to address the remaining rocket threat and the drone threat,” Netanyahu said.
In an earlier post, Trump said the Strait of Hormuz is open but the US will continue the naval blockade of Iranian ships transiting the Gulf of Oman.
“Iran, with the help of the U.S.A., has removed, or is removing, all sea mines,” he added, referring to the Strait of Hormuz.
6.45 pm: Iran declares Strait of Hormuz ‘completely open’
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Friday evening that the Strait of Hormuz is now fully open for all commercial vessels, a significant development amid a US-Iran ceasefire after weeks of conflict that shook up energy markets the world over.
In a post on X, Araghchi said, “In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
5.30 pm: Israel to hold all positions it ‘captured’ in Lebanon
Less than 24 hours after US President Donald Trump declared a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz said Friday that Israeli forces will hold all positions it ‘cleared and captured’ in Lebanon.
Israeli news outlet Haaretz quoted him as having said that the Israeli military “holds and will continue to hold” all positions it “cleared and captured”.
Read this report by Debdutta Chakraborty to know more.
4.30 pm: Pakistan, Saudi, Egyptian foreign ministers
The foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey met in the Turkish resort city of Antalya Friday, according to a report by Al Jazeera.
The meeting assumes significance ahead of the 22 April deadline for the two-week ceasefire between Iran and the US. Islamabad played a key role in facilitating the ceasefire.
4.00 pm: Iran rejects temporary ceasefire
Saeed Khatibzadeh, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, told reporters on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey that Tehran rejects the temporary ceasefire declared by US President Donald Trump earlier this month.
“We are not accepting any temporary ceasefire,” Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency quoted him as having said. Khatibzadeh said that the cycle of conflict “should end here once and for all”.
He also said that Tehran is committed to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and indicated that new arrangements could be put in place with respect to control of the waterway.
1.00 pm: Reactions to ceasefire
French President Emmanuel Macron threw his “full support” behind the ten-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, but urged some caution.
“I also express my concern that it may already be undermined by the continuation of military operations,” Macron said in a social media post.
“I call for the safety of civilian populations on both sides of the border between Lebanon and Israel. Hezbollah must renounce its weapons. Israel must respect Lebanese sovereignty and stop the war,” he added.
J’apporte tout mon soutien au cessez-le-feu entre le Hezbollah et Israël tel que le Président Trump l’a annoncé hier.
J’exprime aussi ma préoccupation qu’il puisse d’ores et déjà être fragilisé par la poursuite d’opérations militaires.
Je demande la sécurité…
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 17, 2026
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif too welcomed the ceasefire, “facilitated through bold and sagacious diplomatic efforts led by President Donald Trump”. He added that he hoped it would “pave the way for sustainable peace”.
I welcome the announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon, facilitated through bold and sagacious diplomatic efforts led by President Donald Trump, and express the hope that it will pave the way for sustainable peace.
Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty and…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 17, 2026
11.50 am: UN welcomes Lebanon ceasefire
United Nations’ Secretary General António Guterres said in a statement that he welcomes the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, and hopes it will “pave the way for negotiations towards a long-term solution to the conflict”. He also urged all sides to comply with international law.
While the world celebrates the ceasefire’s announcement, Lebanon local media is reporting that Israeli forces have fired a machine gun and an artillery shell towards an ambulance team affiliated with the Islamic Health Authority in Kunin, south of the country. There’s no independent confirmation.
11.45 am: ‘Progress’ on thorny issues between US, Iran
Two Iranian sources told news agency Reuters there were signs of a compromise emerging on Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium stockpile. Iran, they said, was considering parting with some of its stockpile, but not all, out of the country. It had earlier refused to do so.
A diplomatic source said that Pakistan army chief Asim Munir, who has been a key mediator in talks between the two sides and was in Tehran Wednesday, had managed to get a breakthrough on “sticky issues”.
nevertheless, the issue over Iran’s nuclear program has not been resolved.
In return, a Pakistani security source told Reuters that Washington was offering to lift sanctions and unfreeze trillions of dollars’ worth of Iranian assets to secure a deal. But, the source added, Iran would open the Strait of Hormuz only if a permanent ceasefire is reached and there are United Nations guarantees that the US and Israel will not attack again in the future.
11.00 am: Overnight recap
- The Lebanon ceasefire began at midnight local time, but Iran-backed Hezbollah continued firing rockets into northern Israel while Tel Aviv continued shelling too.
- BBC reported that Israel was taken by surprise on the ceasefire announcement. An Israeli news outlet described Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convening a security cabinet meeting with just five minutes’ notice, shortly before the ceasefire announcement was made. Leaks from that meeting say ministers were not given a vote on the ceasefire, he said.
- Israel insists its troops will remain in southern Lebanon. Iran welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon, saying it was part of an understanding reached with the US and mediated by Pakistan, Iranian media reported, citing a statement by a Foreign Ministry spokesperson. But Iran has also sought a full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Lebanon.
- Hezbollah released a statement on military operations against Israel throughout Thursday, which showed that its last attack was ten minutes before the ceasefire was effected. Trump later issued a social media post urging Hezbollah to respect the ceasefire. “I hope Hezbollah acts nicely and well during this important period of time. It will be a GREAT moment for them if they do. No more killing. Must finally have PEACE!” he said.
10.00 am: Trump says he may go to Islamabad
Trump said Thursday that if a deal with Iran to conclude the war is reached and signed in Islamabad, he might go.
“If a deal is signed in Islamabad I may go,” Trump said. “They want me.” He also said without providing evidence that Iran has agreed to give up the enriched uranium believed buried from US-Israeli airstrikes last year.
Source: Reuters